presbyters in that kirk; which proveth a presbyterial church before the difperfion, Acts vi. Fourthly, The feveral congregations in Jerufalem being one church, the elders of that church are mentioned as meeting together for acts of government a; which proves that thofe feveral congregations were under one presbyterial go vernment. And whether these congregations were fixed, or not fixed, in regard of officers or members, it is all one as to the truth of the propofition. G Nor doth there appear any material difference betwixt the feveral congregations in Jerufalem, and the many congregations now in the ordinary condition of the church, as to the point of fixednefs required of officers or members. 3. Thirdly, Therefore the fcripture doth hold forth, that many congregations may be under one presbyterial govern ment. II. Secondly, By the inftance of the church of Ephesus; for, 1. That there were more congregations than one in the church of Ephefus, appears by Acts xx. 31 b, where is mention of Paul's continuance at Ephefus in preaching for the fpace of three years; and Acts xix. 18, 19, 20. where the fpecial effect of the word is mentioned c; and v. 10. and 18. of the fame Chapter, where is a distinction of Jews and Greeks d; and 1 Cor. xvi. 8. and 9. where is a reafon of Paul's a Acts 11. 30. Which also they did, and fent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 15. 4. And when they were come to Jerufalem, they were received of the church, and of the apoftles and elders, and they declared all thingsthatGodhaddone with them. v. 6. And the apoftles and elders came together for to confider of this matter. v.22. Then it pleafed the apoftles and elders, with the whole church, to fend chofen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely Judas firnamed Barfabas, andSilas chiefmen among the brethren.Acts 21. 17. And when they were come to Jerufalem the brethren received them gladly. v. 18. And the day following, Paul went in with us unto James, and all the elders were prefent. And fo forward. b Acts20. 31. Therefore watch, and remember that by the space of three years, I cealed not to warn every one night and day with tears. c Acts19.18. And many that believed came,& confefled, and fhewed their deeds. v 19. Many alfo of them which used curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, & found it fifty thousand pieces of filver. v.20. So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed. d Acts19.10. And this continued by the space of two years; fo that all . Paul's, ftay at Ephesus until Pentecoft e; and v. 19. Where 2. That there were many 3. That thefe many congregations where one church, and that theywere under onepresbyterialGovernmentappeareth i. all they who dwelt in Afia heard e 1 Cor. 16.8. But I will tarry at f 1 Cor. 16.19.The churches of Afia falute you, Aquila and Prif cilla falute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their houfe. 37. And they all wept fore, and fell on Pauls neck, and kifled him. i Rev. 2. 1.Unto the Angel of the church of Ephelus write, Thefe things faith he that holdeth the feven ftars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the feven golden candlesticks, v. 2. I know g Acts 18.19. And he came to thy works, and thy labours, & thy Ephefus and left them there; but patience, and how thou canst not he himself entred into the Syna- bear themwhich are evil; and thou gogue, and reafonedwith the Jews. hafttried them which fay they are v. 24. And a certain Jew named apoftles, and are not, and haft Apollos, born at Alexandria, an found them liars. v. 3. And haft eloquent man, and mighty in the born, and haft patience, and for fcriptures,came to Ephefus.. 26. my names fake haft laboured, and And he began to fpeak boldly in halt not fainted v.14. Neverthelefs, the fynagogue,whom when Aquila I have fomewhat against thee, be and Prifcilla had heard,they took cause thou haft left thy firft love. him unto them,& expounded un- v. 5. Remember therefore from to him the way of God more per--whencethou art fallen,and repent, fectly. h Acts 20.17. And from Miletus he fent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the church. v. 25. And now behold, I know that ye all, amongwhomI havegonepreaching the kingdom of God, fhall fee my face no more. v. 28. Take heed therefore unto yourfelves, and to and do the first works;or elfe I will come unto theé quickly,and I will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent, v. 6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest deeds of the Nicolatians, which alfo I hate. Joined with Acts 2017. 28. See in letter b, TH Of Synodical Affemblies. THE Scripture doth hold out another fort of affemblies for the government of the church, befide claffical and congregational, all which we call fynodical. k. Paftors and Teachers, and other church governors(as alfo other fit perfons, when it fhall be deemed expedient) are members of thofe affemblies which we call fynodical, where they have a lawful calling thereunto. . Synodical affemblies may lawfully be of feveral forts, as provincial, national and oecumenical. 1 It is lawful and agreeable to the word of God, that there be a fubordination of congregational, and claffical, provincial and national affemblies, for the government of the church. Of Ordination of Minifters. UNDER the head NDER the head of ordination of minifters is to be confidered, either the doctrine of ordination, or the power of it. N° Touching the doctrine of ordination. O Man ought to take upon him the office of a minifter of the word, without a lawful calling l k Acts 15. 2. When therefore Pauland Barnabashad no fmalldif1entionand difputation with them, they determined that Paul & Barnabas, and certain other of them fhould go upto Jerufalem unto the apostles and elders about this que ftion. v. 6. And the apoftles and elders cametogetherfortoconfider of this matter. 7. 22. Then it pleafed the apostles and elders with the whole church, to fend chofen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely Judas firnamed Barfabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: v. 23 And wrote letters by them after this manner; the Or apoltles,and elders, and brethren, fend greeting unto the brethren which are of the gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia. I John3. 17. John answered and faid, A man can receive nothing, exceptit be given him fromheaven. Rom. 10. 14. How then fhallthey call on him in whom they have not believed ? and how fhall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard, and how fhall theyhear withouta preacher? v. 15, and how fhall they preach except they be fent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glade tidings of good things; Jer Ordination is always to be continued in the church m. Ordination is the folemn fetting apart of a perfon to fome public church-office n. Every minifter of the word is to be ordained by impofition of hands, and prayer with fafting, by thofe preaching prefbyters, to whom it doth belong o. It is agreeable to the word of God, and very expedient, that fuch as are to be ordained minifters, being defigned to fome particular church, or other minifterial charge p. Jer. 14.14. Then the Lord faidunto me, The prophets prophefie lies in my name, I fent them not, nei ther have I commandedthem, neither (pake I unto them; they prophefie unto you a falfe vifion and divination, and a thing of nought and the deceit of their heart. Heb5. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. m1 Tim 1. 5. Forthis caufeleft! thee in Crete,that thou shouldft fet inorderthe things thatarewanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. iTim. 5.21. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jefus Chrift and the elect angels,that thouobfervethelethings, withoutpreferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. v. 22. Lay hands fuddently on no man, neither be partaker of other mens fins. Keep thyfelf pure. n Num. 8. 1o. And thou fhalt bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Ifrael fhall put theirhandsupon the Levites. v. 1. And Aaron fhall offer the Levites before the Lord, for an offering of the children of Ifrael; that they may execute the fervice of the Lord. v. 14. thus fhalt thou fepa rate the Levites from among the children of Ifrael; and the Levites fhall be mine. v, 19. and I have given the Levitesas agift to Aaron, and to his fons, from among the children of Ifrael, to do the fervice of the children of Ifrael in, the tabernacle of the congregation, He and to make an atonement forthe childrenof Ifrael; that there be no plague amongthechildrenof Ifrael, when the children of Ifrack come nigh unto the fanctuary. v. 22. And afterthat went the Levites in, todotheirfervice in the tabernacle of the congregation,before Aaron & before his fons; as the Lordhad commanded Mofesconcerning the Levites, fo did they unto them. Acts. 6. 3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you feven men of honeft report, full of the holy gholt, and wifdom, whom we may appointover this business.v.5 And the laying pleafed thewhole multitude:and theychofe Stephen a man full of faith and of the holy ghoft, and Philip,& Prochorus,& Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a profelyte of Antioch. v. 6. Whomthey had fet before the apostles; and when theyhad prayed they laid their hands on them. o 1 Tim.5.22. Lay hands fuddenly on noman, neither,be partaker of other mens fins, keep thyfelf pure. Acts. 14. 23.And whenthey had ordained them elders in every church,and had prayed with fafting, they commended them to the Lord, onwhomthey believed. A&s 13. 3. And when they had falted and prayed,andlaidtheir hands on them, they fent them away. p Acts. 14. 13.fee before. Tit. 15. For this caufe left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and or dain He that is to be ordained minifter, must be duly qualified, both for life and minifterial abilities, according to the rules of the apoftle q. 4 He is to be examined and approved by those by whom he is to be ordained r. No man is to be ordained a minifter for a particular cone gregation, if they of that congregation can fhew just cause of exception against him. f. Touching the power of ordination. Ordination is the act of a prefbytery t The power of ordering the whole work of ordination is in the whole prefbytery, which when it is over more congregations than one, whether thofe congregations be fixed or not dain elders in every city, as I had not accused of riot, or unruly, appointed thee. Acts. 20. 17. And from Miletus he fent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the church 7. 28. Take heed therefore unto your felves,&to all the flock over thewhichthe holy Ghoft hathmade you overfeers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. v. 7. For a bishop must be blame leis,as the steward of God; not felf-willed, not foon angry, not given to wine, no ftricker, not gi ven to filthy lucre; v. 8. But a lover of hofpitality lover of good men, fober,juft, holy, temperate; v.9. Holding faft the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found doctrine,both to exhoft, and to convince the gainfayers. proved, then let them ufe the office of a deacon,being foundblame lefs. 1Tim. 5.22. Lay hand fuddenly only no man,neither be partaker of other mens, fins: Keep thy felf pure. qi.Tim.3.2 A bishopthen muft be blameless, the hufband of one wife, vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt ITim. 3. 7. Moreover he must to teach; v. 3.Not given to wine, have a good report of them which nor ftriker,not greedy of filthy lu- are without, lelt he fall into reere,bat patient; not a brawler,not proach,and the fnare of the devil. Covetous. 4. One that ruleth, v 10. And let these alfo firft be weil with his own houfe, having his children in fubjection with all gravity; v.5 (For if a man know nothow to rule his own houfe,how fhall he take care of the church of God) 6. Not a novice, left being lifted up with pride, he fall in to the condemnation of the devil, Tit. i5. For this caufe left I thee in Crete, that thou thouldft fet in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city,as I had appointed thee, v. 6. If any man be blameless, the hufband of one wife, having faithful children, f 1 Tim.3. 2.A bifhop then must be blamelefs, the hufband of one wife, vigilant, fober, of good be haviour, given to hofpitality, apt to teach. Tit 1.7. For a bishop must be blameless, as the fteward of God. I t1 Tim. 4. 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was gi Lla |